[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index][Subject Index][Author Index]
Re: Tsaagan mangas - new dromaeosaurid from Mongolia
Jamie Stearns wrote:
I'm just as much for being "multicultural" or whatever as anyone else, but
I think this critter's reached the "name is too goofy for its own good"
point. It just seems that the traditional foundation of using Greek and
Latin for scientific naming is being virtually tossed out the window with
the new dinosaur discoveries from far-off lands. Just an observation of
mine that I've had for a while...
I'm inclined to disagree. I like these non-classical names borrowed from
the local culture. Why should our long-dead toga-wearing friends have a
monopoly on providing names for new genera and species? :-)
For example, I enjoy the way many Australian taxa (living and fossil) are
receiving Aboriginal names, like _Kakuru_, _Yurlunggur_ and _Ningaui_.
They beat hands-down those dusty old names like _Rhoetosaurus_,
_Palorchestes_ and _Hypsiprymnodon_. Turning to Mongolia, I think
_Tsaagan_, _Khaan_, _Citipati_, _Shuvuuia_ &c are all terrific monikers.
Nothing against _Velociraptor_ and _Oviraptor_ and so forth; but it's good
to see some linguistic diversity, IMHO.
Cheers
Tim
_________________________________________________________________
Share your latest news with your friends with the Windows Live Spaces
friends module.
http://clk.atdmt.com/MSN/go/msnnkwsp0070000001msn/direct/01/?href=http://spaces.live.com/spacesapi.aspx?wx_action=create&wx_url=/friends.aspx&mk